Ephesians 6:14b. and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (KJV)

BEFORE WE START THIS, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MAN?

Paul says:

as it is written, “ There is none righteous, not even one;

Romans 3:10 NASB

Does RIGHTEOUSNESS come to us when we are saved? AND IF SO, WHY ARE we told to put on the breastplate of righteousness?

God’s Righteousness is imputed to us who believe according to Paul in Romans chapter 4.

So we have believed and yet we are told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Why might that be?

Psalm 7:8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. (KJV)

David asks to be judged by his own righteousness. Why?

Psalm 37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. (KJV)

God’s righteousness becomes our own when we believe, and are given a new heart. Even David had a new heart, as this was a command from Moses. And it came by faith.

Yesterday, we stated that when considering these individual pieces of the Armor, we will look at each in light of what each is dealing with in us, and try to see why Paul makes the particular association that he does.

The Breastplate covers the most vital of our organs, the heart. The heart pumps the very source of life throughout the body. It supplies the life giving blood to the physical.

Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (KJV)

Righteousness is a provision freely given to the man who believes. But how do we know that Abraham believed? God judges all men based upon their deeds.

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (KJV)

So righteousness is freely given us, but it impacts our actions toward others.

We know that Abraham believed God because of his obedience. We do not even know our own hearts, but we do know when we disobey the God of creation. Why does the Holy Spirit speak of the heart as being the seat of the soul where He dwells? Our emotion wells up inside, when the joy of the Lord becomes our strength. The soul is the seat of emotion.

David loved and respected God.

Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. (KJV)

God’s Righteousness is revealed in our doing. “By their fruits you will know them”. David refused to lift the sword against the King whom God had placed over him.

Deuteronomy 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. (KJV)

Yet, we know that on our own we can do nothing. Our belief must come before our obedience. Our love for Him must come before our obedience. “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”

5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. John 15:5 AMP

We are going to find that as we go through this study of the Armor, that Jesus is the source of everything that we must put on.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (KJV)

Our deeds confirm our beliefs. God does not impute to us righteousness so that we will remain liars, murderers and thief’s, but He imputes righteousness that we might walk in the light as He is in the light. And we will love light better than darkness. When we sin we hate ourselves because we no longer love the darkness, and sin reveals darkness within us. We cry out for deliverance.

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness [who did not seek salvation and a right relationship with God, nevertheless] obtained righteousness, that is, the righteousness which is produced by faith; whereas Israel, [though always] pursuing the law of righteousness, did not succeed in fulfilling the law. And why not? Because it was not by faith [that they pursued it], but as though it were by works [relying on the merit of their works instead of their faith]. They stumbled over the stumbling Stone [Jesus Christ]. Romans 9:30-32 AMP

We are not righteous my brothers; this is why Christ died on our behalf, that we through faith in Him might become the righteousness of God. Think back — “apart from Me you can do nothing”. We in Him have put on His righteousness by faith.

His breastplate of righteousness protects the most vital gift He has given — our new heart, on which He writes His law. From within the man proceeds that which defiles a man.

11 It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him.” Matthew 15:11 AMP

28 for this is My blood of the [new and better] covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many [as a substitutionary atonement] for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28 AMP

Jesus here is referencing the Promise to Israel, but not to all of Israel, it is only to the remnant who are one in Messiah, one new man, one in the Olive Tree. Why because they have found their Messiah, they have received His Spirit, they love Him, and show that love by their obedience.

Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (KJV)

So His righteousness is the Armor over that from which proceeds our actions. It is the New covenant in his blood, the law written upon our hearts that needs protecting. By faith we are made His righteousness. In His righteousness — “Without Me you can do nothing”.

Thank you Lord for Your righteousness. Forgive me Lord for those times that I rely only on my own righteousness which appears as filthy rags before your face.

Deuteronomy 9:4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. (KJV)

If we do not put on Christ as our righteousness, we ourselves are no better than the wicked of this world. But this obedience to Him is done because we love Him, not so that we might earn on our own a salvation that is free.

The very best modern day example of God’s Grace to us is being lived out in our very time in this country. A man with no righteousness of his own has been chosen to route out evil in this land, but will the people of this nation choose Gods righteousness because we love Him, or will they choose the unrighteousness of man —

We know how this will all end.

On that Day when Messiah shall return, righteousness shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (KJV)

Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing! (NET)